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A STRATEGIC PROJECT FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
How Petra Institute is paving the way for future pastors in children’s ministry – with Dr. Viola Fransman
THE SILENT VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Local and global statistics concerning violence against children paint a dim picture
OPLEIDING EN VENNOOTSKAPPE VIR NASORGSENTRUMS
Die NG Kerk Gemeente in Sesmylspruit, Centurion, Suid-Afrika het besluit om iets te doen rondom die feit dat baie kinders ‘n tekort aan daaglikse geestelike en emosionele ondersteuning ervaar, as gevolg van die noodsaaklikheid vir beide ouers om te werk.
THE DISPLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN UKRAINE
Despite having had to flee to other parts of Ukraine and abroad, the team from Children Mission in Ukraine started compiling and publishing resources on social media for children’s ministry workers and parents.
ADVOCACY WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
The Lord started stirring the hearts of some members within the community of the small rural town of Patensie in the Eastern Cape. A security official working in the townships and on farms, saw the many destitute, neglected and vulnerable children. Having been a neglected child himself, and familiar with the work of Petra Institute, he contacted the local Dutch Reformed Church to find out about their involvement with children.
TRAINING AFTERCARE CENTRES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S EMOTIONAL NEEDS
Children of today face many challenges. One of those challenges is the reality that often both parents need to work for an income. As a result, despite the efforts from the parents, many children experience a lack of daily mental and emotional support at home. The challenge also exists in terms of coordinated support networks to address the problem.
2022: LOOKING BACK TO LOOK AHEAD
It is well into 2022, with the year having reached March in a somewhat expeditious fashion. At Petra Institute the momentum is similar. However, taking a step back to reflect on both our in-person and online courses is critical to improving Petra Institute’s objective of building communities where children are welcome.
WALKING WITH WOUNDED CHILDREN COURSE
Through partnerships, advocacy and consultation, Petra remains committed to providing training, through multiple courses, on how to enter the world of a child, to build communities with healthy child-adult relationships.
KENYAN FAMILIES PASSING ON RELATIONSHIPS
‘’Through this CFC training I have learnt new skills and I will train my family so that we can reach other families together. Start at home (Jerusalem) then reach others.’’
GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER: CHILDREN PRAYING FOR THE UNREACHED
A group of adults and children joined from 22 countries (Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Finland, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Angola, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Argentina) across the world to pray with the focus on the 10/40 Window – an area north of the equator (between 10 and 40 degrees).
IN CONVERSATION WITH SONIA SWART, INVESTMENT FACILITATOR
In Chokwe, a few hours’ drive from Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, a teacher’s daily routine became the lifebuoy for an orphaned girl. “One of my colleagues who I trained would after school pass a family’s home and ask for water....
A MESSAGE FROM OUR MD, BERNARD JOUBERT
A message from our MD, Bernard JoubertIt is a great privilege to become the leader of a movement like Petra Institute. It is also a great challenge to maintain the growth curve in which the institute has been since its inception for the past 32 years. Steve Addison...
COVID-19 BRINGS ON A CLOUD, WITH ITS SILVER LINING
Covid-19 brings on a cloud, with its silver liningThe cornerstone that has always distinguished Petra Institute is our philosophy of building relationships. We constantly develop and explore the art of building healthy and respected relationships with, especially...
SAFEGUARDING THE MOZAMBICAN ORPHANS AND CHILDREN
In Chokwe, a few hours’ drive from Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, a teacher’s daily routine became the lifebuoy for an orphaned girl. “One of my colleagues who I trained would after school pass a family’s home and ask for water. Finally, one day she asked the girl who...
AMIDST CONFUSION, THE CHRIST IS BORN
Christmas in Armenia only comes in early January. “On January the 6th we celebrate our Christmas we call the Birth of Jesus” explains Shushan Telian, who currently acts as an interpreter between Petra Institute and our partner in Armenia, Anna Rafayelyan from Children’s Mission.
A MESSY CHRISTMAS TABLE
For little Johnny, it is the best day of the year. The pandemonium that occurs each year makes him feel safe, warm, and loved. At the Christmas table, little Johnny is enjoying his icing-covered face, while his older sister is explaining in her loudest voice to...
THE HEART OF A VOLUNTEER
Feedback from Petra Institute’s Volunteers Many non-profit organisations would not be able to do the work they are doing without the help of volunteers. To many, volunteering is a foreign concept, and yet, in 2018, more than 77 million people in America has done some...
NARRATIVES, ORAL CULTURE AND COVID-19
by Gerhard Strobos, Mwanza, Tanzania Looking back at the Covid-19 pandemic to this point, it is true the world passed through difficulty, heartache, and loss, but the last 6 months was good for my family and me. At the end of February 2020, I was looking at a crazy...
EQUIPPING LEADERSHIP IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
‘’I realised if you can change a classroom, you can change a community, and if you can change enough communities, you can change the world.’’ – Erin Gruwell Petra Institute has always equipped leaders with multiplication at the core of its training methodology. A...
CHILDREN MISSION INTERNATIONAL | PARTNERSHIP FOCUS
Petra Institute has a long-standing partnership with Children Mission1 that spans 21 years. The ministry started because of the obedience of a South African farmer, Bernard Joubert2. Bernard and his wife, Chrismaré, attended a children’s ministry course in 1997 at...
IN CONVERSATION WITH JONATHAN KOFIE
- In collaboration with BorderLineStories Forced child labour, child trafficking, and child prostitution are just some of the challenges many children in Ghana face. In addition to this, positive interaction between children and parents is sadly very limited. “Main...
IN CONVERSATION WITH HANAA SAMUEL
- In collaboration with BorderLineStories In Cairo, Egypt, many children face challenges similar to those found in countries around the world: poverty, violence, and sexual abuse “But the problem on top of that is we don’t have a system to help the children. We don’t...
IN CONVERSATION WITH DESIREE JOSEPH
- In collaboration with BorderLineStories Low self-esteem and peer pressure are some trials children in farming communities in South Africa face. In many cases, these trials are aggravated by inattentive parents and the absence of being listened to. “The parents are...
IN CONVERSATION WITH KOOT AND ENGELA
- In collaboration with BorderLineStories Poverty and abuse of alcohol are some of the ever-present circumstances that children in various households of South Africa are subject to. Building healthy relationships almost seem unimaginable in these unreceptive...
WORLD VISION, DRC | PARTNERSHIP FOCUS
How Petra Institute is Adapting to Online Training Since 2018, we have attempted to train a group of leaders of World Vision in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initial training would be a pilot project for World Vision to familiarise themselves with the...
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Entering the World of Families
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Walking with Wounded Children
Intergenerational Ministry
ONLINE TRAINING
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Relational Family Ministry (RFM)
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Section 10(1) (cN) Public Benefit Organisation no: 18/11/13/2528